Code setting device for signal systems



Aug. 23, 1932, .1. H. WHEELOCK CODE SETTING DEVICE FOR SIGNAL SYSTEMS Original Filed'Jan. 5. 192'! s Sheet-Sheet 1 1 k 4 l \if f J Irren 7L0? Mai/r 7- Mae/ark J. H. WHEELOCK 1,873,729

CODE SETTING DEVICE FOR SIGNAL SYSTEMS Original Filed Jan. 5'. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 EIIIIEIEIDDEIUU Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED ST JOHN H. wH'EE'mK, or ErrzwiLLIAiv NEW HAMPSHIRE, AssieNoE. 'ro sieNAL ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A coEroEa-- rioN or MAssnoHus-E'rrs conE SETTING DEVICE FOR SIGNAL SYSTEMS Original application filed. January 5, 1927, Serial No. 159,165. Patent 1N0. 1,848,148, dated. 1!l[arch 8, 1932. y Divided and this application filed February 28, 1929.. Serial No. 343,474.

The present application is a division of my:

application Serial No..159,165 filed January 5, 1927, Patent No. 1,848,148, dated March 8', 1932 for an electrical signal system and 'relates particularly to an improved codedetermining or setting device of a type that may be advantageously employed inconnection with thelsignal system shown and described in my aforesaid original application, or with other signal systems. V

The objectof the inventioncovered by the present application is to provide an improved code determining or setting device that. is capableof controlling the code sending device from a remote point when desired and is of compact unit construction, whereby the:

device can be readily expanded to provide a greater number'ofcode signals without affecting any of the units already installed for a lesser number of code signals.

' still further object of my inventionis to provide for the convenient assembly of'both the code setting and'code sending devices em-' bodied in my system, whereby these devices can be readilyconnected for joint operation, without making it necessary to provide any additional electrical connections. other than those already provided in the code setting and code sending devices themselves. "The above and other advantageous features of my invention will hereinafter more fully appear, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which i Fig. l'is a diagrammatic view illustrating my system, certain parts of the apparatus being shown in perspective and in developed form in order to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Fig. 2 is a View in front elevation of the Y 18 once, for each revolution of the shaft 16,

code setting unit shown'in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the unit shownmounted on the shaft 16 that the teeth 19 the line 7'( of Fig. 3.

the units of the code setting device, parts be in'g broken away to show the details.

" Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram'of Fig. 8..

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the diflferentfigures. Y

Referring first to Fig, 1, there is shown diagrammatically mycomplete system which generally comprises a codesetting' device A enclosed in dot and dash lines and shown separately in Fig. 2, and a code sending or'operating device B, alsoenclosed in dotand dash lines, which consists of an assembly of difierent pieces of apparatus conveniently mounted together on an insulating base. Obviously, the sending device B may be located remote from the setting device'A. The code operating assembly B comprises a prime mover, such as an electric motor 11, one terminal 12a of which is permanently connected to one side of a source of electrical energy, such as a battery 13, although any other suitable source may be employed. The shaft ofthe motor 11 carries a worm gear 14 which is adapted to drive, through re-- duction gearing 15, the shaft 16 of a current commutating device of any desired type. For, example, the commutating device shown herein is of the type shown in "my Patent No. 1,178,431, issued April 4, 1916, and comprises a number of spaced disks 17 and as shown in Fig. 1, the disks 17 are so are angularly spaced with relation-to the. axis of theshaft 16 to cause thebrushes 18 to engage the teeth 19 successively. In other words, rotation of the shaft 16 is adapted to cause the making and breaking of a number ofseparate branch circuits,.and obviously othertypes of current commutating devices may be used for the. same purpose as for eX- ample, the type of commutating device shown in Fig. 8 herein.

The code setting device A as shown in Fig. 2, provides a number of rows of holes or receptacles 20, each carrying a code numher, as indicated, and in the operation of the system to be hereinafter described, the act of inserting aplug 21 into any one of the receptacles 20 is adapted to cause the sounding of signals such as bells, or horns, a predetermined number of times in a sequence, corresponding to the number of the receptacle 20 in which the plug 21 is inserted. A number of signals 22, such as bells or horns, are indicated diagrammatically in Fig.1, and these signals 22 are adapted to be connected to a suitable source 13 of electrical energy when the winding 23 of a suitable relay device is energized to close the normally open contacts 24. One terminal of the winding 23 is permanently connected to one side of the source 13, while the other terminal thereof is adapted to be connected to the other side of the source 13 through the commutating device as it Open ates under the control of the code sending device.-

As best shown in Fig. 3, the code setting device A comprises a number of similarly constructed units disposed within a box 25, each unit comprising a pair of blocks 26 and 27 of insulating material. Opposed faces of the blocks 26 and 27 are provided with registering notches 28 and these notches line up with the receptacles 20 provided in the front of the casing 25, as shown clearly in Fig.

Still referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that opposed insulating blocks 26 and 27 provide pairs of alined openings 29 extending at right angles to the notches 28 in each of which seated a cylinder 30 enclosing a plunger 31 pressed by a spring 32. Each plunger provides a contact tip 33 which normally extends into the groove 28, so that each groove 28 provides a number of pairs of opposed contact tips 33 yieldably maintained so as to extend slightly into the groove 28.

As shown in Fig. 6, the upper insulating block 26 of each code setting unit provides a number of parallel bus bars numbered 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, extending across the tops of the plunger cylinders 30 and these bus bars are connected to the cylinders 30 as indicated, either by reason of their engagement with the cylinders 30, or by soldering, if desired. However, certain of the cylinders 30 are purpose'l'y maintained out of electrical contact with the bus bars by means of thin insulat ing disks 34, as indicated by the black circles, these insulating disks 34 being arranged in accordance with the code signal to be sounded by the insertion of the plug 21 in a given receptacle 20.- The lower insulating block 27 of each code setting unit is provided on its bottom with a number of parallel bus bars numbered 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10, respectively, and as shown in Fig. 7, these bus bars are respectively connected to, or insulated from the rows of cylinders 30 in accordance with the same code signals which determined the connections of thecylinders 30 to the upper bus bars 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. It will be particularly noted that the bus bar 1 of each unit is connected to all of the cylinders 30 of its row as are also the bus bars 9 and 10.

A portion of the bus bars 1 to 10 inclusive, for the first code setting unit, are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, with the plug 21 shown as having been inserted in the receptacle designated three in Fig. 2. From this showing it is evident that the plug 21 is in electrical contact only with the bus bars 1, 2 and 3 respectively and with the bus bars 9 and 10, all the other bus bars being insulated from the plug 21 by the disks 34. It is also to be noted that the tip portion 21a of the plug 21 is insulated from the rest of the plug, as indicated at 35, so that'there is no electrical connection between the bus bars 1, 2 and 3 and the bus bars 9 and 10, the purpose of which will shortly appear.

The bus bars 1 to 8 inclusive, are connected by correspondingly numbered conductors and terminals 1a to Sc inclusive to the commutator brushes 18, and it is evident from a consideration of Fig. 1, that rotation of the shaft 16 will cause the brushes 18' to engage the disk teeth 19 in the same order as the i? bus bars are numbered. In other words, the

bus bar 1 will be connected to the'shaft 16 through the brush 18 and disk 17 the bus bar 2 will be connected to the shaft 16 through the brush 18 and disk 17", and so on for the f.

number to the disks 17. A pivotally mounted finger 38 coacts with the disk 36 and as shown below the disk 36 carries a movable contact 39 which is adapted to engage a stationary contact 40 connected to one side of the source 13 through terminal 40a. As fully set forth and claimed in my above mentioned Patent No. 1,178,431, these master contacts 39 and 40 are adapted to prevent arcing in the branch circuits controlled by the motor driven commutating device, and it is not believed necessary to burden the present specification with an exhaustive description of what is shown to one side of the source 13, while the bus bar.9.is connected through terminal 9a to the movable ,ar1n41 of a relay-device, the energizing coil of which is indicated at 42. The contact arm 41 is normally in engagement with-a stationary contact 48 which is in turn connected with the terminal 125 of the electrio motor 11. Consequently,"when the plug 21 islinserted in the receptacle markeclgthree in Fig. 2, the insulated tip 21a of the plug will connect the bus bars 9 and 10 so that current-will flow from one side of the source 18to the bus bar 9, from thence through a conductor-"44 through the then closed contact-s 41- and '48 to. the motor terminal 12?), thereby starting the motor 11 in operation, since the other motor terminal 12a is C011. nected to source 18. The motor 11 will continue to operate as long as the circuit through the contacts 41' and 48 remains closed, as shown, and my original application shows means for stopping the motor 11 after it has made a predetermined number of revolutions, such as three.

Briefly stated, the means for stopping mo tor 11 comprises a pinion 77 on shaft 16 in mesh with a gear 7 8 on a countershaft 79, the ratio between the gears 77 and 78 being such that the shaft 79 makes only one revolution for every three revolutions of the commutator shaft 16. The gear 78 carries a cam 80 which is adapted to engage a finger carried by a pivoted arm 81 and projectin path of movement of the cam 80 as the shaft 9 rotates. When the finger is engaged by the cam 80 after the shaft 16 has made three complete revolutions, the arm 81 is turned about its pivot to move it into engagement with a stationary contact 82 connected to the open terminal of relay winding 42. The arm 81 thereby interrupting the motor circuit at.

this point. When the arm 41 is attracted by energization of the winding 42, it "engages a stationary contact 83, thereby establishing a holding circuit for the winding 42, so that p the latter remains energized when the arm 81 is released by the cam 80.

'VVhil-e, as previously pointed out, the circuitlof the motor 11 is interrupted at the end of every third revolution of the shaft 16 by the operation of the cam 80, the circuit of the motor 11 is maintained for a short interval after the cam 80 engages the arm 81 in order to clear the finger from the cam80. This purpose is accomplished by means of a holding circuit comprising a conductor 84 leading from the motor terminal 12bto a pivotally mounted arm 85; The arm 85 carries a finger 86 which cooperates with a disk 87carried by the shaft 16, butinsulated therefrom. The

disk 87 providesa depression 88, and when second revolution.

g into the the finger. 86 is in thisidepression the end of the arm 85 is. out of engagement with a con tact 89 connected tothe source 13 through terminal 89a. .VVhen the finger 86is in the depression 88, the angular relation between the disk 87 and the gear 7 8 is such that the cam 80-has just freed itself from the fingcr49 and all parts are at rest.

Assuming then that the plug 21 has just been inserted to'complete the circuit of the motor. 11 through the conductor 44, as previ ously described, it is evident that as soon as the shaft 16 starts to rotate, the finger 86 will be lifted by the disk 87, thereby also closing the motor circuit at the contact 89. In other words, at this timecurrent can flow to the motor .11 through either circuit. After the shaft 16 has made one revolution the holdin 7 O circuit is broken at 89 as the finger enters the depression 88, but at this time the cam 80 has only completed one-third of a revolution and the motor 11 continues to operate through the circuit completed by the plug21. The same thing occurs as the motor completes its However, as the shaft 16 is about to complete its thirdrevolution, starting from the position shown in Fig. 1, the cam 80 turns the arm 81, and by causing energizationof the winding 42, breaks the motor circuit throughv the conductor 44 and contacts 41- and48. Atthis moment, the finger 86 is still riding on the periphery of the disk 87, al-' though justabout to enter the depression 88. Consequently, the shaft 16 turns a few more degrees before the motor circuit is broken at 89, so that the shaft 16 comes to restwith the finger on arm 81 freed from the cam 80. Thus the motor-1'1, when once started, is automatically caused to turn the shaft 16 through exactly three complete revolutions, and as will now be described, these three revolutions:

cause three cycles of signals to be sounded through the branch circuits established by the code setting device A and the commutat,

ing device operated from the shaft 16.

As previously pointed out, the diagrammatic showing of Fig. 1 indicates that the lug'21 has been inserted in the receptacle labeled three in Fig. 2, andas indicated by the arrow heads, only the bus bars 1, 2 and 3 are in electrical contact with the plug 21 through corresponding spring-pressed contact tips 33, Fig. 5. Therefore, when the motor 11 is started, as previously described, the first few, degrees of revolution of the shaft 16will cause the finger 18 to be en-- gaged by the tooth 19 on the disk 17. This causes the open end of the signal relay solenoid 28 to be connected to the shaft 16, but no current will flow until the circuit is closed at the contact 40 by the action of the finger 38 riding up on the first master disk tooth 37. When this occurs the circuit of the winding 23 will be completed through the master contacts 39 and 40, the disk 17, finger 18', through a portion of the conductor 1a, through the winding 23, and from thence back to the source 13 through the conductor 90 leading from winding 23. This causes the signals 22 to be sounded for a short interval, determined by the time the finger 38 remains on the first tooth 37, and it is evident that this tooth is so formed that the finger 38 will drop ofi sharply, thereby opening the signal relay circuit at the master contacts 39 and 40.

When continued rotation of the shaft 16 causes the teeth 19" and 19' to engage the fingers 18 and 18, respectively, this again establishes the circuit of the signal relay through the master contacts, thereby sounding the signals a second time and a third time. After the three signals have been sounded in spaced relation, nothing further happens until the shaft 16 starts on its sec ond revolution, whereupon three signals are again sounded, and the same thing takes place at the beginning of the third revolution of the shaft 16.

When, as previously described, the shaft 16 comes to rest at the end of the third revolution, all parts remain as shown in Fig. 1 as long as the relay winding 42 remains energized through the engagement of the contacts 41 and 83. At this time the complete cycle of signals having been sounded, the attention of the telephone operator is called to this condition by the illumination of a red light 91 which is shunted around the winding 42 through terminals 91a and 91b and remains illuminated as long asthe plug is all the way in. This red light 91 may be conveniently located in the front of the box casing enclosing the code setting device, as shown in Fig. 2, although it may be located elsewhere. When the illumination of the red light 91 indicates to the operator that a call has gone through, she can cause the call to be repeated by withdrawing the plug 21 far enough from its receptacle to break the circuit between the bus bars 9 and 10, this condition being immediately indicated by the extinguishment of the light 91, due to deo energization of the conductor 44. When this occurs the arm 41 drops back into engagement with the contact 43 and the cycle of signals can be started again by the operator pushing in the plug all the way, thus restarting the motor. It is obvious that after a complete cycle of signals has been sounded one or more times and the red lamp 61 remains illuminated, the plug 21 can be partly withdrawn to extinguish the lamp 91 and to restore the system to its normal inoperative condition.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the odd number of parallel bus bars, numbers 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 on the upper 1 insulating block 26 are connected to a number of separate fingers 45 extending downwardly into the space between the insulating block and the casing 25. These fingers 45 each bear against a terminal strip 46 carried bythe wall of the casing 25, whereby connections may be readily made from the bus bars to the code sending apparatus. As shown in Fig. 3, the pair of blocks 26 and 27, representing the upper row of code numbers shown in Fig. 2, rest upon a second pair of blocks 26 and 27, which in turn rest upon the bottom of the casing 25. The lower block 27 of the first unit is separated from the upper block 26 of the second unit by a sheet of insulating material 47 which serves to keep the even numbered bus bars on the block 27 out of engagement with the odd number of bus bars on the block 26. The fingers 45 which are connected to the bus bars on the block 26 are also connected to the odd numbered bus bars on the block 26, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, so that a single set of connecting fingers 45 serves for both units. As shown at the left in Fig. 3, similar fingers 48 are connected to the even numbered bus bars 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 on the blocks 27 and 27 these fingers 48 bearing on terminal strips 49 arranged similarly to the terminal strips 46.

From a consideration of Figs. 3 and 5, it is obvious that my code setting device comprises a number of similar units which may be manufactured in quantity and assembled to provide the desired number of code calls.

It is evident that the casing 25 could be readily enlarged to provide room for more than two complete units, as shown, the units resting firmly one upon the other and the circuit connections being established from the two sets of bus bars through the fingers 45, 48 and terminal strips 46 and 49, respectively.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, there is shown a modification in the manner of connecting the units of the code setting device,

those provided by the units. The above figures also show a modified form of commutating device, the operation of which is essentially the same as that shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 8, the modified form of code setting unit A is enclosed within a box 50 of insulating material which rests directly upon a similar box 51 containing the code sending apparatus B. The code setting unit within the box 50 comprises a number of pairs of insulating blocks 52 and 53 respectively, which are similar to the pairs of blocks 26 and 27 previously described, with the exception that different means are provided for connecting the sets of bus bars of the several blocks together. Each block 52 and 53 providesalong itsrighthand edge a series. of open1ngs54 correspondlng in number and ahnement with the odd numbered. bus bars 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 while the left hand edge of.

56, which. is countersunk in the opening, the 7 top of each cyllnder 56 providing a lug 57,"

which is substantially flushwith the surface of its insulating block. A plunger 58 is pro-: vided in eachcylinder 56, each plunger pro.- viding an elongatedtip 59- that extends through the bottom ofthe corresponding block and engages the lug 57 of the alined cylinder 56 of the block just below; The end of each tip 59 is concave and is adapted to be held in engagement with the convex lug 57 of the cylinder 56 by the pressure of a spring 60. The bus bar 1 of each block 2 is connected to the lug 57 of the corresponding cylinder 56 so that when a number of blocks 52 and 53 are assembled, a circuit is provided from each of the bus bars 1'to the tip 59at' the bottom of the stack. This lowermost tip 59is in engagement with a suitable lug on a terminal 61 that is set in a base .62. and ex-Z tends slightly beyond the edge of the blocks 52 and 53. The terminal 61 provides a finger 63, which extends through the top 64 of the box 51, and is closely received in a socket 65 provided in a terminal lug 66 carried by the side wall of the box 51.

Each of the odd numbered bus bars is con-' nected to one right hand cylinder lug 57 on the blocks 52, and circuits are established thereby to all of the terminals 61 and 66. The

lugs 57 provided on the left hand edge of the blocks 53 are respectively connected to the even numbered bus bars which are extended and bent around the ends of the blocks 53 in grooves 67, so that the even numbered bus bars can be readily connected. The lowermost tips 59 for the even numbered bus bars are connected by terminals 68 and fingers 69 to a corresponding number of terminal lugs 70, so that all of the bus bars are represented by terminals within the box 51 containing the commutating or code sending device.

The commutating device in the box 51 provides a stationary commutator ring 71 around the periphery of which are provided contacts 7 2. These contacts 72 provide terminal portions inside the ring 71, to which are connected the bus bars 1 to 8 inclusive by conductors running from corresponding terminals 66 and 70 on opposite sides of the box.

JA shaft 73 extends centrall Y through the commutator ring 71 and carries an arm 74, from which extends a contact finger 75, adapted to engage the contacts 72 when shaft 73 is driven by a motor 76 through suitable gearing, all as set forth in the original application of which the present application is a division. From the foregoing-description of F ig.'-8, it is apparent then when the code setting units represented by the blocks 52 and 53 are assembled in the box 50, connections are automatically established between the corresponding bus bars on the units and also between the bus barsand the corresponding contacts'72 on the commutator ring 71. The

whole assembly is eiiected without necessitat- 'ing' any electrical connections being made,

the mere act of assembly establishing the necessary connections.

Inoperation, the commutating device in the box 51 functions in essentially the same manner as the commutatin g device of Fig. 1, with certain differences as follows :When the finge'r7 5 is on a contact 72, a second finger 92 is in-engagement therewiththrough con-' tact points 93, sowhen the finger passes ofi a'contact 72 the points 93 separate, thereby breaking the circuit between the shaft 7 3 and a contact 72 through the master contact points 93. This prevents arcing between the.

finger 75 and the individual contacts 72.

Referring now to Fig. 9, the circuit connections of the apparatus, shown inFig. 8 are shown diagrammatically, a plug 94 being shown in the receptacle marked three just asin Fig. 1. The plug 94 carries a coil spring 95 which is compressed when the plug is pressed all the way in to connect the bus bars 9 and 10, but which moves the plug 94 outwardly enough to disconnect the bus bars 9' and 10 when pressure on the plug is released. The insulated tip portion 94a of the plug 94 is slightly tapered at its other end, but it is obvious .that when the plug 94 is pushed all the'way in,'thus compressing the spring 95,

the circuit of the motor 76 will be established through the bus bars 9 and 10.

As the motor 7 6 starts in response to pushing: in the plug 94 all the way, a holding circuit is established for the motor 76 through acontact arm 96 and a stationary contact 97 connected to one-side of the source 13. The

contact arm 96 is pivotally mounted and pro-' vides a finger 98 which cooperates with a cam 99 on a countersha-ft 100, see Fig. 8. The

shaft 100.is connected by gearing 101 so that it makes only one revolution for every three complete revolutions, irrespective of the fact that the'slight withdrawal of theplug 94-by the spring 95 breaks the circuit between the bus bars 9 and 10.

The relay winding 23 which controls thesignals 24 is connected to one side of the source 13, while the other terminal thereof is connected to the terminal lug of the bus bar 1. Consequently, when the brushfinger 75' engages the commutator contact 7 2, the signals are sounded once, the commutator shaft 73 completing the circuit to the other side of the source 13. With the plug 94 as shown, the signals are sounded again when the commutator finger 75 engages the contacts 72 connected to the bus bars 2 and 3,

* respectively, and thus three signals are sounded in succession for each revolution of the commutator shaft 73. l/Vhen the motor circuit is broken at the contacts 96 and 97 upon completion of the third revolution of the shaft 73, the parts come to rest in the posicontacts with terminals registering with those of contiguous units, whereby the assembly of the stack automatically establishes circuit connections through the engaged terminals of said units and said base to the said commutator contacts of the code operating device.

2. A selector comprising'a casing having openings in one wall, insulating members therein, arranged in pairs, with registering notches in their adjacent edges constituting passages each in alinement with one of said openings, rows of contacts carried by said insulating members and extending into said passages, a plurality of conductors extending along the insulating memberstransversely to the passages, connected with some of said contacts and insulated from others, springs each connected with one of said conductors and supported by the insulating members,

and metallic terminals on the casing which said springs engage.

3. A selector comprising a casing of insulating material having openings in one wall, insulating members therein with registering notches in their adjacent edges constituting passages, each in alinement with one of said openings, rows of cont-acts carried by said insulating members and extending into said passages, a plurality of conductors connected with some of said contacts and insulated carried by said casing which said springs engage.

4. A signal code selector comprising a stack of superposed units of substantially identical construction with each unit cover ing a distinctiverange of code selections, each of the units including an insulating panel carrying fixed parallel bus bars with certain bus bar's providing contacts determining each code selection and each of said bus bars having a terminal at one end extending transversely thereto, the terminals of corresponding bus bars of the several units being in electrical engagement with each otherin' the assembled stack of units. 1

5. A signal code selector comprising a stack of superposed units of substantially identical construction with each unit covering a distinctive range of code selections, each of the units including an insulating panel carrying fixed parallel, horizontally disposedbus bars with certain bus bars providing contacts determining each code selection and each having a terminal, the terminals of cor-- responding bus bars of the several units being electrically connected to each other by con ducting members extending through the assembled stack of units, whereby the energization of any group of contacts by a code setting member energizes the corresponding bus bars in the stack.

JOHN H. lVHEELOOK. 

